This is the scene of the fatal shooting which happened in Ratoath, Co Meath, tonight where a close associate of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was shot dead in his car.

The images depict the scene of the gun attack where a 57-year-old man was shot.

It is understood that the man was in a car when he was shot, and that he died at the scene.

The shooting happened at the Old Mill housing estate in Ratoath, Co Meath, at approximately 7.45pm tonight.

Gardai and paramedics are currently at the scene.

Cllr Damien O'Reilly, a Fianna Fail councillor in the Ratoath Municipal District, said tonight: "The whole community is very shocked by this murder. We are shocked that inner city gangland violence appears to have spread to this suburban area of County Meath.

"It's appalling that a life has been taken in this way in Ratoath.

"This is an extremely quiet village with a well-settled community which has the second-highest proportion in Ireland of professional people living here. It's terrible. The shooting took place in an estate which has a large amount of children," he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Gerry O'Connor said "My thoughts tonight are with the family of the poor unfortunate person who has been shot dead. There is enough killing going on in the world without it happening on our own doorsteps.

"No one deserves to have their life ended like that."

"The people of Ratoath, Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne will be very saddened and shocked by this killing. There is no history of serious crime in this area and what has happened is totally out of the ordinary," he said.

The authorities are appealing for witnesses who might have been around the housing estate or the Fairyhouse Road this evening to contact Ashbourne garda Station on 01 8010600, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.